Order of British India

Order of British India
1939–1947 version First Class 1939–1947 version Second Class
Awarded by British Empire
Type	military decoration
Awarded for	long, faithful and honourable service
Status	no longer awarded after 1947
Post-nominals	OBI Bahadur (hero) Second Class Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader) First Class
Statistics
Established	1837
Precedence
Next (higher)	Royal Red Cross (Class II)
Next (lower)	Kaisar-i-Hind
Original Ribbon 1837–1838 Second Ribbon 1838–1939

The Order of British India was a medal and chivalric order which was bestowed by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service", beginning in 1837. The Company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British honours system in 1859. The order became obsolete in 1947, after the partition of British India betwixt the Union of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

The Medal

The Order was awarded in two classes: first and second class. The recipients of the second class were entitled to the post nominal title Bahadur (hero) and recipients of the first class were entitled to use the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader), and the post nominal letters OBI. The order was highly regarded^{[citation needed]} and was awarded for distinguished service on a particular campaign, but was also often awarded to officers for between 20 and 30 years service.

Recipients

The following is an incomplete list of people appointed to the Order of British India:

First Class

• Sardar Bahadur Captain Bhola Singh Gulia of Indian Survey Regiment. (Badli, Haryana) OBI first class, 33 Years record of unbroken service (1911-1944).Served in both world wars. Reference - Madras War Review magazine 21 january 1944.

"Captain (Hony.) Shankar Dass Randhawa, Sardar Bahadur, OBI, of 2nd Punjab Regiment, fought in both the World Wars including theatres in Mesopotamia, Egypt et all. Resided at Village Seota, Post Office Mangwal, Tehsil Dehra Gopipur, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India after retirement in 1948. Born (perhaps, 1893) and died at Tanda Hospital, Kangra (H.P., India)on 11 January, 1967 after an illness. His wife Mansaan Devi was at his bedside. She was lovingly known as "Chachiji" and he as "Chachaji". He had three sons (all since demised), youngest being Major Sharan Randhawa, 5/1 Gorkha Rifles, who died of gastroentritis (contracted on posting at Dimapur, Nagaland)during first leave in Ghurkari, Kangra. Died at Military Hospital, Yol Camp, Kangra (HP, India)on 28 (???) June, 1980. Shankar Das Randhawa had three sons and five daughters whose further history will be submitted later. Of his descendents, one grandson (through his eldest son Charan Randhawa) Ajay Randhawa (Major, 5 Field Artillery) made to the Indian Army, others taking to other fields of life. Captain Shankar Das Randhawa was highly respected in Kangra district, well known for his character, integrity and philanthropy in the area. He took to spiritualism by the age of 62 and was highly regarded for his achievements in the field. In his spiritual pursuits he was adequately aided by his son-in-law Sardar Badhawa Singh husband of his daughter Smt.Ishwar Kaur (alive and living in Delhi, India). This information is submitted by Ishwar Kaur's younger son, Guru Sharan Singh. Anyone having more inputs is welcome to edit or add to the present information.

• Sardar Bahadur Captain Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat of Prithvipura. OBI, MBE, MC & MC (Bar)
• Sardar Bahadur Captain Kalandar Khan Khattak of Jalozai-Noshera, (Cheif of Khattaks, OBI & Zailidar of Peshawar, Dehli & Lahore)
• Sardar Bahadur Subedar-Major"Bahadour" Oomar Khan, OBI (1st Class)2nd Baluch 29th Regt.BO;N.I. 1880.(Zamindar Karachi)
• Lt Gen Raosahib M. Ellapa Bahadur OBI (1st Class)
• Capt Sardar Zain Muhammad Khan,Sardar Bahadur,OBI
• Lt Col Sardar Bahadur Aman Singh Jodha,OBI,IOM Jodhpur Lancers (IOM on 23 September 1918 at Haifa)
• Colonel (Sardar Bahadur) Hashim Ali Khan, Nawab Mir Hahsim Nawaz Jung Bahadur,SB OBI (1st Class) (1897)
• Subedar Major Bahadur Singh Atwal, SB, OBI (1st Class)
• HE Lieutenant Colonel Raja Atta Ullah Khan, Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class) (1868), IOM
• Captain (Sardar Bahadur) Muhammad Ismail, IOM (3rd Class 1897). OBI (1st Class 1917), British Indian Army
• Sardar Bahadur Captain Hazara Singh Bahad, OBI (1st Class)
• Subedar Major Jodh Singh, Sardar Bahadur OBI (1st Class), 14th Punjab Regiment British Indian Army.
• Subedar Hari Singh Thapa Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class)
• Captain Raja Larasahib Khan, OBI (1st Class 1939)
• Subedar Major Raja Nazar Muhammad Khan IOM Bahadur.
• Captain Rup Singh Sardar Bahadur, OBI (1st Class)
• Captain Nar Bahadur Gurung, SB, OBI (1st Class), MC
• Sardar Bahadur Dr. Kartar Singh Grewal, OBI (1st Class 1939), (Honorary Captain, Retired)
• lt col Anop Singh, Jodhpur Lancers

• Captain Inayat Ullah Asmie, Bahadur OBI, (died 1947, Lahore), 10 Baluch Regiment, served in 2 World Wars, as Subedar and Captain (King's Commission).

Photo: Late Captain Inayat Ullah Asmie, Bahadur OBI

• Honorary Captain Mihr Din (Sardar Bahadur), OBI (1st Class 1918)

Second Class

• Capt. Syed Rasool Shah S/O Syed Fazal Shah, OBI (2nd Class), RIASC, PJO_31511.
• Subedar Maima Singh Bahadur IOM, OBI (2nd Class) 15th Bengal Infantry.
• Subedar Bahadur Niaz Muhammad Khan, OBI (2nd Class), IOM. 4/7 Rajput Regiment, British Indian Army
• Subedar-Major Bahadur Jagindar Singh Saini, OBI (2nd Class), IOM (2nd Class)
• Lieutenant Mohammed Abdul Hafiz, 61st Pnrs., BAHADUR, OBI, IDSM, awarded on August 2, 1919 for "gallant and distinguished services in the Field" on October 11, 1917.
• Subedaier Bahadur Humail Khan, OBI (2nd Class)
• Subedar Richhpal Singh Bahadur, OBI (2nd Class)
• Subedar Major/Capt Bishon Singh Kathait 5/9 G/r/OBI/ Sardar bhadur 2 world war

Unknown Class

• Captain Nawab Khan, OBI
• Rao Bahadur Colonel Thakur Balu Singh ji Inderpura, OBI
• Captain Mubarak Ali Khan, OBI
• Sub Major Syed Nazar Mohammad Shah, OBI Bahadar

References

• Peter Duckers, British Orders And Decorations, Shire Publications, Buckinghamshire, 2004